winter etal



Jan. 21, 1964 0. WINTER ETAL 3,113,245

COVER ARRANGEMENT FOR BUSINESS MACHINES Filed March a, 1962 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 21, 1964 0. WINTER ETAL 3,118,246

COVER ARRANGEMENT FOR BUSINESS MACHINES Filed March 6, 1962 2Sheets-Sheet 2 //V YEN/'0? 0 2: 4/ 4/21- United States Patent 3,118,246COVER ARRANGEMENT FQR BUSINESS MAHKNES Gite Winter and Hans Eichemeyer,Wilhelmshaven,

Germany, assignors to fllympia Werite AG., Wilheinishaven, Germany FiledMar. 6, 1962, Ser. No. 177,834 Claims priority, application Germany Mar.6, 1961 8 Claims. (Cl. 4568.1)

The present invention concerns business machines e.g. typewriters,equipped with a cover member which is tiltably and removably mounted onthe machine frame and serves to cover or to protect certain mechanicalcomponents of the business machine.

in conventional arrangements of this type the cover member is tiltablysupported with pivot pins in resilient bearing devices which exert aclamping action on the ivot pins so that the cover member may be removedby tilting it upward and lifting its pivot pins out of enga ement withthe bearing devices. On the other hand, for reinstalling the covermember the pivot pins have to be first pushed into engagement positionwith the bearing devices whereafter the cover member is tilted down intoits normal position. These conventional devices suffer from the drawbackthat by careless handling during reinstalling the cover member theelastic members of the bearing devices may be bent or damaged so thatthe cover member cannot assume its accurate and proper position. Inaddition, the downward direction of inserting the pivot pins into thebearing devices makes it necessary in most cases to move certainportions of the business machine, e.g. the carriage of a typewriter,into such a position that it does interfere with the handling of thecover, both when the latter is to be removed and when it is to bere-installed in place. Moreover, the danger exists also that during there-installation of the cover certain portions of the business machine,e.g. the platen of a typewriter, is damaged. To reduce this danger itmay be necessary to provide for special guide means for guiding thecover into a position in which its pivot pins can engage the bearingdevices.

It is therefore one object of this invention to provide for anarrangement which eliminates the above-mentioned disadvantages.

It is another object of this invention to provide for an arrangement ofthe type set forth which is considerably simpler and more reliable thanconventional arrangements.

With above objects in view the invention includes an i F arrangement fordetachably securmg a cover member 111 predetermined position on abusiness machine frame member, comprising, in combination, on the innerfaces of the lateral side walls of the machine frame member and of thecover member, respectively, a pair of separable hinge means, each hingemeans comprising a first member including a pivot portion and attachedto the respective side wall of one of the machine frame and covermembers, and a second member attached to the respective side wall of theother one of the machine frame and cover members and including a bearingportion engageable with said pivot portion, so that, when said portionsof both hinge means are in engagement, the cover member is tiltableabout an Hi8 connecting said pivot portions; and on the inner faces ofthe walls of the machine frame member and of the cover member,respectively, at points spaced from the location of said hinge means, apair of locking means, each locking means comprising a catch memberattached to the respective wall of one of the machine frame and covermembers and a resilient latch member mounted on the respective wall ofthe other one of said machine frame and cover members and beingengageable with said catch member, said hinge means and said lockingmeans being so arranged in relation to each other that when saidportions of said hinge means are in engagement and said latch and catchmembers are in engagement the cover member is secured in predeterminedposition on said machine frame member.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbe best understood from the following description of specificembodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FlG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the right hand portion of abusiness machine frame and of a corresponding cover member including oneset of hinge and locl-zing eans according to the invention in disengagedposition; and

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the members of FIG. 1 in engagedposition.

In the illustrated embodiment a separable hinge structure is illustratedwhich comprises a first member 2 attached for instance by spot weldingto a selected point of the inner face of one side wall 1a of the machineframe 1, and a second member 5 attached in the same manner to the innerface of the corresponding side wall 4a of a cover member 4-. The member2 includes an inwardly offset upright portion 2a 'which carries a pivotpin 3. Instead of attaching a pivot pin 3 to the bracket 2 an equivalentpivot portion may be formed integrally from the material of the bracket2. The pivot portion of the member 2 projects toward the interior of themachine. The corresponding member 2 mounted on the opposite side wall ofthe machine frame is so located that the line connecting the pivotportions 3 or" the two members 2 constitutes the axis of the desiredtilting movement of the cover 4, preferably parallel with the front edgeof the machine, as will be described further below. A forward extension2b of the portion 2a is slightly bent outwardly so as to act as a guidefor the member 5 when the two hinge members 2 and 5 are to be broughtinto engagement.

The second member 5 has an inwardly offset portion 5a extending inrearward direction and perpendicular to the above-mentioned tiltingaxis. The portion 5a has a V-shaped cutout adapted to straddle the pivotportion 3. The free end of the portion 5a is slightly bent inwardly soas to be adapted to meet the portion 2b of the member 2 when the cover 4is being installed in place. The member 5 further includes an inwardlyproiecting extension 5b covered with elastic material 6, e.g. consistingof a piece of tubular elastomeric material which is so positioned thatupon installation of the cover 4 in place it rests on the upper edge lbof the machine frame '1 as shown in FIG. 2.

The locking arrangement according to the invention, mounted at a certaindistance from the abovedescribed hinge arrangement, comprises a latchmember 7 mounted on the inner face of the side wall of the cover member4, and a catch member If? mounted in corresponding position on the sidewall 1:: of the machine frame 1. The latch and catch members 7 and ill)may also be attached to the frame and cover members, respectively, byspot welding.

The catch member if has two upwardly extending portions 10a and lllb.The portion 10a is formed so as to extend in a plane substantiallyperpendicular to the side wall in of the frame and its upper end isslightly bent in forward direction so as to act as a guide for theforward edge of the latch member 7 when the portions of the lockingarrangement are moved into engagement, as will be amazes describedfurther below. The other portion itlb is formed to a V-shape as shown atWe to act as a catch, and the upper free end of the portion frfic isslightly bent inwardly at Elia in order to facilitate the engagement ofthe resilient latch portion with the catch portion the as will bedescribed further below. It is to be noted that the portions 10:: and 1%do not have to be resilient but are preferably rigid.

The latch member 7 has three portions 7a, 7b and 7c projecting inwardlyof the machine and substantially horizontally. The portion 7a isprovided with a piece of elastic material 8, preferably a tubular pieceof elastomeric material. It serves to cushion the member 7 on the upperedge lb of the frame when the locking arrangement is in engaged positionas shown in P16. 2. A resilient latch member 9 consisting of a coiledtension spring is mounted between the portions 7b and 7c, for instanceby engagement of its end hooks into holes or notches provided in theportions 712 and 70, respectively. The spring 9 is so positioned thatwhen the cover with the latch member 7 is moved downwardly it willresiliently engage the V-shaped portion 100 of the catch member 10.

In operation the arrangement according to the invention functions asfollows:

When the cover member 4 is to be installed in the desired position, asshown in FIG. 2, on the machine frame member 1, then the cover member 4is to be moved, with the latch member 7 slightly lifted above the catchmember 10, in substantially horizontal direction in the direction fromfront to the rear of the machine (from right to left as seen in FIG. 2)in such a manner that the V- shaped cutouts of the two hinge portions astraddle and engage the corresponding pivot members 3. During thismovement and before such engagement the bent portions 212 and 5a meetingeach other assist in producing the desired transverse alignment of thehinge portions and therefore also of the cover 4 with the machineframe 1. As soon as the hinge portions are in engagement with eachother, the front end of the cover 4 may be tilted in downward directionso that the springs 9 of the two latch members 7 snap into therespective portions 190 of the catch members It). It is clear that thesprings h will yield slightly when they engage the upper portions 100!of the respective catch members it before snapping into engagement.During the engaging movement just described the forward edges of thelatch members 7 are likely to engage the forward bent upper ends of theportions Ida of the catch members 143 so that a final push is exerted onthe cover 4 whereby the hinge portions 5a and pivot portions 3 areforced into intimate engagement and the accurate desired positioning ofthe cover 4 on the machine frame 1 is assured. At the same time theelastic cushion members 6 and 8 are pressed on the upper edges 1b of themachine frame so that the cover is now firmly held in the desiredposition.

When the cover 4 is to be removed the above described operations arecarried out in reverse, i.e. first the front end of the cover isslightly lifted so as to disengage the catch member from the latchmember whereafter the cover can be withdrawn in forward direction so asto disengage the hinge portions da from the pivot portions 3.

It should be noted that the above-described embodiment is only oneexample of carrying out the invention. For instance, the latch member 7could be mounted in upsidedown position on the side wall in of themachine frame while the catch member it? would be mounted in upsidedownposition on the side wall 4:: of the cover 4. Similarly, the hingeportions 2 and 5 could be exchanged against each other. Only in thiscase the V-shaped cutout of the portion 5a which in the illustratedexample opens toward the rear would have to be arranged so that it openstoward the front of the machine so that the pivot portion 3 carried bythe cover can be moved in direction toward the rear into the recess ofthe portion So.

It should be noted further that the entire arrangement according to theinvention does not comprise any springs of the blade type which arelikely to lose their strength or to be bent or distorted duringcontinuous use. No such danger exists for a coiled spring 9 used in thearrangement according to the invention as a resilient latch member.

Where space conditions permit the locking means 7, 15 may be mountedalong the front walls of the machine frame and cover members.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types ofan arrangement for detachably securing a cover member on a businessmachine frame differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in anarrangement for detachably securing a cover member on a business machineframe and comprising separable hinge means and resilient locking means,it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since variousmodifications and structural changes may be made without departing inany way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can by applying current knowledgereadily adapt it for various applications without omitting eatures that,from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and,therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehendedwithin the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. An arrangement for detachably securing a cover iember inpredetermined position of being superimposed on a business machine framemember, comprising, in combination, on the inner faces of the lateralside walls of the machine frame member and of the cover member,respectively, a pair of separable hinge means, each hinge meanscomprising a first member including a pivot portion and attached to therespective side wall of one of the machine frame and cover members, anda second member attached to the respective side wall of the other one ofthe machine frame and cover members and including a bearing portiondisengageable from and engageable with said pivot portion so that, whensaid portions of both hinge means are in engagement, the cover member istiltable about an axis connecting said pivot portions, said hinge meansbeing so constructed and arranged that, when said cover member is inslightly tilted up position relative to a position of being superimposedon said frame member, said pivot and bearing portions are engag-eablewith, and disengageable from, each other by substantially horizontalrearward and forward movement, respectively, of said cover memberrelative to said frame member; stop means mounted on said frame andcover members and arranged for preventing movement of said cover memberrelative to said frame member when the former is superimposed on thelatter but permitting movement of said cover member in saidsubstantially horizontal direction when the latter is in slightly tiltedup position relative to said superimposed position so as to permit inthis position disengagement and engagement of said separable hinge meansby such substantially horizontal movement of said cover member; andlocking means mounted on said frame member and the cover member,respectively, and releasably holding said cover member on said framemember when in said superimposed position in which forward movement ofsaid cover member is blocked by said stop means.

2. An arrangement for detachably securing a cover member inpredetermined position of being superimposed on a business machine framemember, comprising, in combination, on the inner faces of the lateralside walls of the machine frame member and of the cover member,respectively, a pair of separable hinge means, each hinge meanscomprising a first member including a pivot portion and attached to therespective side wall of one of the machine frame and cover members, anda second member attached to the respective side wall of the other one ofthe machine frame and cover members and including a bearing portiondisengageable from and engageable with said pivot portion, so that, whensaid portions of both hinge means are in engagement, the cover member istiltable about an axis connecting said pivot portions, said hinge meansbeing so constructed and arranged that, when said cover member is in aslightly tilted up position relative to a position of being superimposedon said frame member, said pivot and bearing portions are engageablewith, and disengageable from, each other by substantially horizontalrearward and forward movement, respectively, of said cover memberrelative to said frame member; stop means mounted on said frame andcover members and arranged for preventing movement of said cover memberrelative to said frame member when the former is superimposed on thelatter but permitting movement of said cover member in saidsubstantially horizontal direction when the latter is in slightly tiltedup position relative to said superimposed position so as to permit inthis position disengagement and engagement of said separable hinge meansby such substantially horizontal movement of said cover member; andlocking means mounted on said frame member and cover member,respectively, at points spaced from the location of said hinge means,said locking means comprising a catch member attached to the respectivewall of one of the machine frame and cover members and a resilient latchmember mounted on the respective wall of the other one of said machineframe and cover members and comprising a coiled spring member held intensioned condition and being engageable with said catch member, saidhinge means and said locking means being so arranged in relation to eachother that when said portions of said hinge means are in engagement andsaid latch and catch members are in engagement the cover member issecured in superimposed position on said machine frame member.

3. An arrangement for detachably securing a cover member inpredetermined position of being superimposed on a business machine framemember, comprising, in combination, on the inner faces of the lateralside walls of the machine frame member and of the cover member,respectively, a pair of separable hinge means, each hinge meanscomprising a first member including a pivot portion and attached to therespective side wall of one of the machine frame and cover members, anda second member attached to the respective side Wall of the other one ofthe machine frame and cover members and including a bearing portiondisengageable from and engageable with said pivot portion, so that, whensaid portions of both hinge means are in engagement, the cover member istiltable about an axis connecting said pivot portions, said hinge meansbeing so constructed and arranged that, when said cover member is in aslightly tilted up position relative to a position of being superimposedon said frame member, said pivot and bearing portions are engageablewith, and disengageable from, each other by substantially horizontalrearward and forward movement, respectively, of said cover memberrelative to said frame member; stop means mounted on said frame andcover members and arranged for preventing movement of said cover memberrelative to said frame member when the former is superimposed on thelatter but permitting movement of said cover member in saidsubstantially horizontal direction when the latter is in slightly tiltedup position relative to said superimposed position so as to permit inthis position disengagement and engagement of said separable hinge meansby such substantially horizontal movement of said cover member; andlocking means mounted on said lateral side walls of the machine framemember and of the cover member, respectively, at points spaced from thelocation of said hinge means, said locking means comprising a catchmember attached to the respective lateral side wall of one of themachine frame and cover members and a latch member mounted on therespective lateral side wall of the other one of said machine frame andcover members and comprising a coiled spring member held in tensionedcondition and be'mg engageable with said catch member, said hinge meansand said locking means being so arranged in relation to each other thatwhen said portions of said hinge means are in engagement and said latchand catch members are in engagement the cover member is secured insuperimposed position on said machine frame member.

4. An arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein said second portion ofsaid hinge means is a bracket having a forked portion defining a recessextending in the longitudinal direction of said lateral sidewalls andadapted to straddle said pivot portion of said first portion of therespective hinge means.

5. An arrangement as claimed in claim 4, wherein said latch member is abracket including means for holding said coiled spring in a positionwherein its longitudinal aXis extends substantially in the longitudinaldirection of said lateral side walls.

6. An arrangement as claimed in claim 5, wherein said catch member is arigid bracket having a portion extending toward said latch member andbeing formed with a recessed portion positioned and adapted to beengaged by said coiled spring.

7. An arrangement as claimed in claim 6, wherein said catch member has asecond portion including guide means for engaging a portion of saidbracket of said latch member and for forcing said hinge means into firmengagement when said locking means are moved into engaged position.

'8. An arrangement as claimed in claim 7, wherein said brackets of saidhinge means and of said locking means are provided with elasticcushioning means positioned and adapted to resiliently engagecorresponding portions of said machine frame member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS986,197 Morris Mar. 7, 1911 1,558,953 Waldheim Oct. 27, 1925 1,929,551Hamilton Oct. 10, 1933 2,196,648 Visser Apr. 9, 1940 2,702,116 Shmitzleret a1 Feb. 15, 1955 2,770,388 Legge Nov. 13, 1956 2,791,346 Tell May 7,1957

1. AN ARRANGEMENT FOR DETACHABLY SECURING A COVER MEMBER INPREDETERMINED POSITION OF BEING SUPERIMPOSED ON A BUSINESS MACHINE FRAMEMEMBER, COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, ON THE INNER FACES OF THE LATERALSIDE WALLS OF THE MACHINE FRAME MEMBER AND OF THE COVER MEMBER,RESPECTIVELY, A PAIR OF SEPARABLE HINGE MEANS, EACH HINGE MEANSCOMPRISING A FIRST MEMBER INCLUDING A PIVOT PORTION AND ATTACHED TO THERESPECTIVE SIDE WALL OF ONE OF THE MACHINE FRAME AND COVER MEMBERS, ANDA SECOND MEMBER ATTACHED TO THE RESPECTIVE SIDE WALL OF THE OTHER ONE OFTHE MACHINE FRAME AND COVER MEMBERS AND INCLUDING A BEARING PORTIONDISENGAGEABLE FROM AND ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID PIVOT PORTION SO THAT, WHENSAID PORTIONS OF BOTH HINGE MEANS ARE IN ENGAGEMENT, THE COVER MEMBER ISTILTABLE ABOUT AN AXIS CONNECTING SAID PIVOT PORTIONS, SAID HINGE MEANSBEING SO CONSTRUCTED AND ARRANGED THAT, WHEN SAID COVER MEMBER IS INSLIGHTLY TILTED UP POSITION RELATIVE TO A POSITION OF BEING SUPERIMPOSEDON SAID FRAME MEMBER, SAID PIVOT AND BEARING PORTIONS ARE ENGAGEABLEWITH, AND DISENGAGEABLE FROM, EACH OTHER BY SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTALREARWARD AND FORWARD MOVEMENT, RESPECTIVELY, OF SAID COVER MEMBERRELATIVE TO SAID FRAME MEMBER; STOP MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME ANDCOVER MEMBERS AND ARRANGED FOR PREVENTING MOVEMENT OF SAID COVER MEMBERRELATIVE TO SAID FRAME MEMBER WHEN THE FORMER IS SUPERIMPOSED ON THELATTER BUT PERMITTING MOVEMENT OF SAID COVER MEMBER IN SAIDSUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL DIRECTION WHEN THE LATTER IS IN SLIGHTLY TILTEDUP POSITION RELATIVE TO SAID SUPERIMPOSED POSITION SO AS TO PERMIT INTHIS POSITION DISENGAGEMENT AND ENGAGEMENT OF SAID SEPARABLE HINGE MEANSBY SUCH SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID COVER MEMBER; ANDLOCKING MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME MEMBER AND THE COVER MEMBER,RESPECTIVELY, AND RELEASABLY HOLDING SAID COVER MEMBER ON SAID FRAMEMEMBER WHEN IN SAID SUPERIMPOSED POSITION IN WHICH FORWARD MOVEMENT OFSAID COVER MEMBER IS BLOCKED BY SAID STOP MEANS.